Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar dives for a ball hit by Houston Astros' George Springer during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 5, 2014, in, Anaheim, Calif. Springer was safe at first on the play. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Aneles Angels, from left, Collin Cowgill, C.J. Cron and Erick Aybar celebrate after Cron and Aybar scored on a double by David Freese in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Thursday, July 3, 2014, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Kyusung Gong) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT

Erick Aybar made his case for an all-star nod by adding punch to his offense and continuing to play consistent defense.

Aybar went into Sunday’s game batting .278 with six home runs and 43 RBIs with 21 doubles and 44 runs scored. His RBIs tally made him No. 1 among shortstops in the American League.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia has been batting Aybar fifth lately to take advantage of his new-found pop.

“I think we put him in a spot to get some opportunities, and he’s responded very well to it,” Scioscia said. “He’s on a tremendous pace for production on the offensive side for a shortstop.”

Aybar’s uptick in production at the plate made him an all-star candidate because his defense has been stellar. Aybar has made five errors this season, has 200 assists and a .984 fielding percentage.

“The thing about Erick is he never takes a play off. If you watch his intensity, his prep, he’s really the captain of that infield,” Scioscia said. “If you see the way he relates to Howie and to whoever is playing third base, he’s well aware of situations, he has great game feel, and then when you put his natural ability to make some tough plays look easy, he’s got a very strong, accurate arm, he can throw from different angles, he plays hard every play, so in my mind, he’s one of the top three shortstops in baseball. He doesn’t get a lot of notoriety, but there’s no doubt he can play with anybody who is in the game today.”

Aybar went 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored against Houston on Saturday night. It marked his eighth game with three or more hits this season.

“Erick will put the ball in play,” Scioscia said. “He’s gotten a lot of big hits for us.”

Aybar’s ability to make some tough plays look easy, make the routine play and do the little things right also has contributed to his all-star quality season.

“I think just the simple 6-4 feeds to make sure you start the double play right, the way he is in the cutoff position he should be in, he is a very polished player and has that same skill set, so he’s playing at a very high level,” Scioscia said.

“He’s an all-star,” Scioscia said. “Whether you make the team or not, sometimes those things are out of your control. But Erick is an all-star player, no doubt.”

Michael Roth down, Fernando Salas up

Left-handed relief pitcher Michael Roth was brought up from Double-A Arkansas, made his season debut with the Angels and threw two scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win against the Astros on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, Roth was sent back to Double-A to make room for Fernando Salas.

Roth, 24, is 7-4 with a 2.40 ERA as a starter at Arkansas.

Salas was rehabilitating at Single-A Inland Empire. He’s been out since June 15 with shoulder inflammation.

Salas is 4-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 27 ⅓ innings of relief for the Angels this season.

David Freese on the bench

Third baseman David Freese, who had a pinch-hit two-run home run on Saturday night, was not in the lineup for the second straight game on Sunday. Freese has a sore shin he suffered while sliding into home plate on Friday.

Freese has been heating up at the plate of late, batting .395 with 12 RBIs since June 20. His pinch-hit home run on Saturday came during the Angels’ eight-run seventh inning, which took 55 minutes. Three Houston pitchers threw 74 pitches in the inning.

“Probably one more day with David,” Scioscia said. “But he can probably come off the bench and hopefully do what he did last night.”

Dave Thorpe is the local sports coordinator for the Daily Breeze. He has been covering local sports in the South Bay for the Daily Breeze since 2006. He previously was the sports editor at the Palos Verdes Peninsula News.

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